Telephone system



Nov. 29, 1927.

. W. T. POWELL TELEPHONE SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 2l. 1925 H .QL

INVENTOR WINFRED T. POWELL UZ j Nov. 29, 1927.

w. r. POWELL 1650906 TELEPHONE SYSTE Filed Feb. 2l, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 2 [1Q-HH lr n INVENTOR ATTORN EY QM wml-'RED T. PowEu.

W fr BY 1w www Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

ITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

WINFRED TQ POWELL, OF IRO('JIl-IESTER,` NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE STROIVIBERG- CARLSON TELEPHONE MANUFACTURNG COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW`YORK, A

CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Application nea February 21, 1925. serial No. 10,952.

This invention relates to telephone systems and more particularly to telephone systems in which means are provided for charging certain of the calls originated.

ln certain types of telephone systems it is customary to provide a message charging device at each telephone line, so that the subscriber thereat, can be charged for calls. Under certain conditions itI may be desirable to charge the call to the called subscriber instead of to the calling subscriber.` An eX- ample ot this condition may be in the case ot a department store, which on certain occasions may advertise that when a predetermined number, other than the usual number is called, the call instead ot being charged to the calling subscriber is charged on the called subscribers' meter.

@ne ot the features ofthe present invention resides in the provision of `means in a telephone system, whereby calls, whi-ch are normally charged to the calling subscriber, may under predetermined conditions, automatically controlled, be charged to the called subscriber.

Another feature ,of the present arrangement resides `in the provision ot means, whereby a call to a called subscriber, when completed through one channel, is charged to the callingfsubscriberand when completed through a second channel is charged to the called subscriber. f

ln the drawings, Figf 1 diagrammatically represents a portion of an automatic telephone system, iny which onlya calling and called subscribers line and substation are shown and a line switch and one connector Ator completing a connection bet'uf'een these two lines. lt will be` understood that in systenis having more than one'hundred lines, one or more selectors and trunks, arranged to be connected in series, may be interposed between the line switch and connector within the dotted rectangle having the legend fselectors. l

Fig. 2 diagrammatically represents a portion ot" a manual system in which the present invention is incorporated.

Beten-ing to Fig. 1, the invention will best be miderstood by describing themethod of establishing' a telephone connection between the calling line designated A and the called line designated B. lVhen the subscriber at A initiates a call, by removing his receiver from its switchhook, the line relay 5 is energized in thewell known manner in a circuit completed through the armature and back contacts Vot the cut-ofi' relay 6 and the two sides of the calling line in series, to ground. The line relay 5 when thus energized completes an operating circuit for the motor magnet A7, in the event that the brushes 8, 9 and 10 of the line switch are not in engagement with the terminals ot' an idle trunk, since this line switch is of the rotary stay-put type. `This operating circuit extends from grounded battery, winding of the motor magnet 7, its armature and1 back contact, armature and front Contact ot the line relay 5, back contact and armature of the cut-ottv relay 6, test brush 10, test conductor, such as 11, of the busy trunk, front contact and armature of a slow releasing relay corresponding to 12, conductor such as 13, continuity spring and armature of relay 14, to ground. The cut-off relay during this time, although a circuit is completed for it from grounded battery, winding, armature and back contact of the motor magnet Y,

winding ot the cut-oli' relay 6, lfront contact and armature of relay 5,\to ground, is not operated in this circuit, because it is short eireuited by the operating circuit of theinotor'wmagnet 7 previously described. When, however, the motor magnet 7 has advanced the line switch brushes 8, 9 and 10 to the terminals ot an idle trunk, "whose test terminal is `characterized by the absence oft ground potential, `due to the fact that the relay 12 associated with this trunk is not operated, the motor magnet is no longer operated and the mentioned short` circuit,

including theconductor 11, is no longer completed. The cut-ofi` relay is operated in the mentioned circuit serially including the `iront contact and armature of the line relay 5. The motor magnet 7, however, is

upper armatures and front contacts of this relay through, the brushes 8 and 9ot`the line switch conductors l5 and 16 of the selected trunk through bot-h windings in series ofthe relay 17, to ground and grounded bat the motor magnet 7 which is completed at f tery respectively. The relay 17 is operated in this circuit and at its Jfront Contact and armature actuates the slow releasing relay l2. The cut-ofi relay 6 at its upper armature and back contact interrupts the operating circuit of the line relay 5, but this last named relay is sufficiently slow releasing so that the ope ating circuitof the cut-ott' relay G is maintained until the relay 12 is operated to complete a holding circuit ior the cut-ofil relay, extending from grounded battery, winding, armature and back contact oi' motor magnet 7, winding ot the cut-ott relay (i, its lower front contact and armature, test brush 10, holding conductor 11, liront contact and armature of relay 12, conductor 18, continuity spring and back contact ot relay 14, continuity spring and back contact ol' relay 1S, to ground.

For purposes ot this description it has been assumed that the calling subseribers line has been extended through one or more selectors, depending on the size ot the system, to the connector of Fig. 1 through which the called subscribers line may be reached. It has been previously described, honT the extension of the calling line to these conductors results in the operation of relay 17.

The connector switch is now in condition to receive impulses corresponding to the tens digit of the wanted number, which in this instance is #2630. The subscriber at A now operates his dial sender in the well 'known manner to transmit the tens series of impulses. In response to each of the impulses of this series, the impulse relay 17 retracts its armatures, but the slow releasing relay l2 does not release its armatures during the normal interruption of its operating circuit at the front contact and armature of relay 17. On each retraction of the armature ot relay 17, a circuit is closed from ground, armature and back contact of relay 17, right hand armature and front contact of relay 12, winding of the change-over relay 19, primary motor magnet 2O and the side switch wiper 21 in its first position, to grounded battery. On the irst completion of this circuit, the change-over relay 19 attracts its armatures and thereby completes a circuit from ground, its armature and continuity spring, winding of the escape magnet 22, to grounded battery. As is well known, the escape magnet on its deenergization serves to advance the side switch wiper one step. On each completion of the circuit described as extending,r through the changeover relay 19, the primary motor magnet 20, advances the brushes 23, 2st, 25 and 26 of the connector, one step in their primary movement. At the close of the tens series of impulses the impulse relay 17 holds its armature attracted for an appreciable interval, so that the change-over relay 19 deenergizes, opening the holding circuit of the escape magnet 22, which t ereupon deenergizes to advance the side switch wipers into their second position.

The connector switch circuits am now in readiness to receive the units series of impulses transmitted from the calling subscribers dial. In response to each ot these impulses, the impulse relay 17 retracts its armature as in the case of the previous series otl impulses, but the units impulses are now effect-ive to control the secondary motor inagnet 27 over a circuit extending from ground, armature and back contact of relay 17, right hand armature and front contact of relay l2, change-over relay 1,9, secondary motor magnet 27, back contact and armature of relay 28, side switch wiper 21, in its second position, to grounded battery. On the first complet-ion of this circuit, the changeover relay 19 is energized as it was during the tens series of impulses and likewise holds the escape magnet 22 energized. In response to each of the units impulses, the secondary motor magnethas its o )erating circuit closed, so that it operates tire brushes 223 to 26 of the connector in a step-by-step movement in a secondary direction.

At the close of the units series of impulses,

if the called subscribers line is idle, the T escape magnet 22 deener izes and moves the side switch wipers into t eir third position. This results in the closure of an operatingr circuit for the relay 30, from ground, winding of this relay, conductor 31, side switch wiper 21 in its third position, to grounded battery.

then the relay 30 is operated, ringing current is applied from the ringing generator GEN, back contact and upper armature of the trip relay 32, upper armature and front contact of relay 30, connector brush 23, over the upper side of the called subscribers line and through the substation circuit and ringer at substation 13, over the lower side of the called line, connector brush 24, front contact and armature of rclay 30, inner armature and back contact of the trip relay 32, upper winding of this relay, to grounded battery. During the time that ringing current is being applied over this circuit, the slow releasing relay 18 is energized from grounded battery, its winding, inner back contact and armature of relay 32, ott-normal contacts 33 to ground.

lVhen the called subscriber answers, the trip rela-y 32 is energized in the well known manner and locks itself operated from grounded battery, through its lower winding, front contact and armature, to ground through the off-horinal contacts 33. This opens the operating circuit of relay 1S, but since it is slow releasing it temporarily closes the circuit from the booster battery 34, armature and continuity spring of relay lUfi 32, armature and continuity spring of the relay 18, conductor 35, back contact and continuity spring of relay 14, conductor 13, armature and front Contact of relay 12, conductor 11, test brush of the line switch, lower armature and front contact of the cutsoil relay, winding of the meter magnet 37, to grounded battery, for operating this meter. This last described circuit is closed only momentarily, since the slow releasing relay 18 deenergizes shortly after the opening of its circuit, and thereby insures that the calling subscriber will only be' charged once tor each call.

Let it now be assumed that the called subscribcrs line is busy at the time when it is tested by the connector test brush 25, at the close of the units series of impulses, at which time the escape magnet normally deenergizes. VV-lien, however, the called line is busy, the escape magnet is held operated from grounded battery, 'its winding, continuity spring and back contact of relay 19, winding of the test relay 28, its continuity spring and back contact, side switch wiper 36 in its second position, test brush and through a multiple test terminal of the called line and a test` brush similar to 25 at the connector, which has previously seized the called line, and thence by a side switch wiper similar to 36 in its third position to ground through the continuityspring and back contact similar to relay 14. On the operationot test relay 28, this relay closes a looking circuit Jfor itself from ground at the ofi-normal contacts 33, through its inner armature andr continuity spring and its winding, back contact and continuity spring of the changeover relay 19, winding ot the escape magnet 22, to battery. The escapey magnet thus holds the side switch wipers in their second position and the busy test relay 28 through itsouter armature and front contact connects a source oit' busy tone current from BZ over conductor 38, to the calling substation. i

TWhen the calling subscriber terminates the call, either because he has finished his conversation or because the called line is busy, he replaces his receiver on its switchhook and thereby causes the impulse relay 17 to deenen gire. 'lhis opens the operating circuit of the slow releasing relay 12, which shortly afterwards deenergizes and completes a cir cuit tor the release magnet 39 through, oii'f' normal contacts 40, back contact and armature of relay 12, back contact and armature of relay 17, to ground. The release magnet 39 is thus energized and in the well known manner restores the brushes 23 to 26 of the connector and also the side switch wipers to their normal position. Also when relay 12 deenergizos, it opens the holding conductor 11, which has maintained the cut-oli' relay 6, of the calling line operated. This last named relay dceuergizes and disconnects the calling line from brushes 8 and 9, so that-the brushes of the line switch may remain in engagement with the terminals of the trunk last used.

Let it be assumed that the called subscriber at B has indicated that calls directed to khis substation designated by a special numb-er such as #2680, which is diiferent Jfrom the normal designation and thereby reaches his substation through a different channel, may be charged on his message register such as 41. Under this condition a calling subscriber, such as A establishes hisconnection in the manner already described, but in this instance, dials such a designation that the brushes 23 to 26 are set on the terminals designated -.,+,t2680, which also lead to substation B. It will be noted that in this instance an additional terminal such as 42, associated with this line is connected to ground, so that when connector brush 26 engages this contact 42, a circuit is closed from ground, front contact and armature of relay 30, winding of relay 14, to grounded battery. In this instance relay 18 is operated as soon as the off-normal contacts 33 are closed as in the case of the previous call and when the trip rela 32 is energized, at the time when the callec party answers, a circuit from the booster battery 34 is extended through the armature andcontinuity spring of relay 32, armature and continuity spring ot relay 18, inner armature and continuity spring of relay 14, side switch wiper 3o in its third position, test brush 25,

winding of the called meter magnet 41, to grounded battery. In this way the called ineter magnet 41 operates to charge the call originated by the calling subscriber. The

release of the connection is established inthe manner already described. f

Fig. 2 shows a modified form oi' the invention applied to a manual telephone system. l/Vhen a calling subscriber in this system, whose substation is indicated at D voriginates a call, line relay 43 is energized in the well known manner through the armatures and back contacts of the cut-oiiZ relay 44 and the two sides of the calling subscribers line in series. l/Vith the line relay operated, the

line lamp 45 is lighted in series with the pilot relay 46, which in turn lights the pilot f lamp 47. The operator on noting that the line lamp 45 is lighted, inserts the plug P into the jack J of the calling line. This effective to energize the sleeve relay 48 from groundedk battery, its left hand winding, sleeve contacts of the plug P and the ack J,

winding of the cut-ott' relay 44, to ground. f

Relays 48 and 44 are thus energized. rlhe ylast named relay on operation disconnects the line relay 43 from its line and thereby extinguishes the lamps 45 and 47. The relay 48 on operation closes a locking circuit ttor itself from grounded battery through its low7 resistance winding, its front contact and armature and thence to ground through the cut-olf relay 44. The meter 49 of the calling line does not receive sutlicient current to operate at this time. The energization ot the relay 48 closes at its inner armature and front contact, a break-point in the circuit of the supervisory lamp 5t), but this last named lamp does not operate, due to the tact that the supervisory relay 51 is energized, over the answering end ot the cord circuit and the two sides of the calling line. in series. The operators telephone set is now connected to the cord circuit, either automatically or manually. F or the purpose ot disclosing this invention, the operators telephone Set (not shown) is indicated being connected to the cord circuit through listening key contacts LK.

lVhen the ope'atoi"s telephone set is connected to the calling line, the operator inquires the designation oi' the wanted number. Itis assulned that this call is to be charged to the callingr subscriber. so that he gives the designation number #26210, to indicate the` called line. The operator then tests the called line in the well known manner and Since it is assumed that this line is idle, inserts the plug P into the jack .l of this line. The cutotll relay 52 ot' the called line, then operates from ground through the sleeve contacts otl the jack J and the plug l, continuity spring and back contact of the relay right hand winding of the. marginal relay 5st, winding ot the slow releasing relay 55, to grounded battery. Relays 5l and 55 are energized in this circuit. elay closes a circuit from ground through its inner front contact and armature, lei't hand winding ot relay 53, to grounded battery. This last relay, when operated, closes a locking circuit for itself, its right hand winding, left hand winding of the relay 54, inner armature and continuity spring ot' this relay, inner armature and continuity spring ot' relay 53, sleeve contacts of the plug P and the jack J, to ground through the cut-oli1 relay 52. The operation ot the relay 53 opens the energizing circuit ot' the relay 55, but since it is slow releasing, it temporarily holds its armatures attracted. lVhen the called party answers the supervisory relay 56 is energized over the two sides in series ot 4the called end of the cord circuit and thcI snbscribers line. This etl'eets the energization oi the slow releasing relay 57, from grounded battery, winding` ot this relay, back contact and armature of the relay 58, armature and frontv contact of the relay 56. front contact and armature of relay 53. to ground. As soon as the relay 57 is operated it effects the actuation of the relayv 5S Vtrom grounded battery, winding of the slow releasing relay 58, inner armature and front contact of relay 57, ar-

mature and front contact ot relay 56, front contact and armature ot relay 53, to ground. The relay 58 on operation, at its right hand armature opens the holding circuit ot' the relay 5T and closes a locking circuit t'or itsel l' through its right hand liront contact and armature, to ground at the letty hand l'ront contact and armature ot the relay 53. llcl'ore the relay 5T deenergizes, however, a circuit is closed from the booster battery 5t), inner armature and front contact ol relay 5o, outer armature and trout contact o l relay 5T, back contact and armature ot relay UU, outer let't hand armature and trout contact ot relay 5l, now energized. coiuluctor (3l. through the sleeve contacts ot the plug l. and the jack d, through the lett hand winding o't the meter 40, which operates to charge the call. The meter (52 is provided to count the number of calls, which the operator handles.

At the close ot the conversation. when the calling subscriber replaces his receiver on its switchhook. the .supervisory relay 5l dcenergizes and since the relay 4S is operated at this time, the supervisory lamp 5U is lighted as a signal to the operator to disconnect the plugs l" and P lrom the jacks with which they have been in engagement.

Let it be assumed that the called subscriber at substation li has indicated that the change may be reversed on all calls to his substation, by giving as theI designation #2680. Let it further be assumed that under such conditions the calling subscriber D initiates a call, whereupon the operator, whose cord circuit is shown in Fig. 2, inserts the plug P into the jack J, so that. the call proceeds in the manner already outlined, except that in this instance the operator inserts the plug P into the jack J2. Under these conditions the marginal relay 54, does not operate, since the, resistance (55 is now included in its operating circuit'. Gtherwise the operation is similar to that previously described, so that in this instance the booster battery 59 is applied through the inner armature and front contact ot relay 5S. outer armature and t'ront contact ot relay 5T, bacl; contact and armature of relay (5t), outer armature and back contact of relay through the sleeve contacts ot the plug P and the incl; J2, resistance til to ground through the cut-oil' relay 52 and the meter magnet (35 in multiple. The meter magnet (i5 on operation locks itself operated until the plug ll removed from the jack J.

At the close of the conversation when the callingsubscriber replaces his receiver on its switchhook. the supervisory relay 5l. dcenergizes to light. the supexw'isory lamp. as prt yiously indicated. This is a signal to the operator to remove the plugs l) and ll from the jacks with which they have been in engagement.

It will be understood that during such pci riods as the 'called party, does not `wish `to have calls charged to him which were not originated on his` line, ground. may be disconnected trom terminal Ll2,in the disclosure of Fig. l, and in the case of the manualk system` disclosed in Fig'. 2, the resistance 63 is either removed or short circuited,` so that it is no longer effective.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In a telephone system7 a calling telephone line7 a called telephone line, a message charging d evice associated with each of said telephone lines, two channels through which said called line may he reached, means for interconnecting said telephone lines through said channels, and means responsive to the completion of said interconnection through one channel functioning to actuate the message chargingdevice of the calling telephone line and functioning to actuate the charging device of the called telephone line when said telephone lines are interconnected through a second channel.

2. In a telephone system, a calling telephone line, a called telephone line, a message charging device associated with each of said telephone lines, two channels of diiierent character through which said called line may loe called, means for interconnecting said telephone lines through one of said channels, and means responsive to the com pletion of said interconnection through one channel functioning to actuate the message charging device of the calling telephone line? and functioning to actuate the message charging device of the kcalled telephone line when said telephone lines are interconnected through a second channel.

3. In a telephone system, a calling telephone line, a called telephone line, a message charging device associated with each of said telephone lines, means for interconnecting said lines, means including said interconnecting means Jfor establishing` at will two different conditions at the called telephone line, and discriminating means associated with said interconnecting means for op# erating the message charging device of the calling telephone lineupon response of the called party iii one condition exists at the called telephone line and for operating the message charging device of the called tele phone line upon response of the called party it' another condition exists at said last mentioned line.

Ll. In a telephone system, a calling telen phone line, a called telephone line, a message charging device associated with each of said telephone lines, two different channels connected to said called telephone line, a ditferent condition present at each of the channels of said called telephone line` means for interconnecting said lines through either of the channels of said called telephone line, and discriminating means associated with said interconnecting means for operating the message charging device of the call-ing telephone line or the `message charging device of the called telephone line depending on the condition present at the channel used in interconnecting said telephone lines.

5,. The method ot lcharging tor telephone calls which consists normally in charging a call to the calling telephone line when two telephone lines are interconnected by way of one `oii a plurality of multiple terminals associated with the called line and in charging the call to the called telephone line when these two telephone lines are interconnected by way of another otsaid plurality of terminals. l

6. The method of charging for telephone calls which consists in assigning two designations to a telephone line, charging a call to said first telephone when one designation is employed by a second telephone line in yextending a connection between said telephone lines, and charging said call to said second telephone line when a second designation is employed by said second telephone line in extending a connection between said telephone lines.

7. In a telephone system, a calling' telephone line.y a called telephone line, a charging device individual to each of said telephone lines, sets of multiple conduct-ors connected to conductors ot said called telephone line, one oi said sets of conductors being characterized by one condition and the other set of conductors being characterized hy a diiierent condition, means including` a link circuit for interconnecting said telephone lines through either of said sets of multiple conductors, and means controlled by the condition at the set ot conductors to which said link circuit is connected in interconnecting said telephone lines for determining` on which ot said charging devices said interconnection is charged.

8. In a telephone system, a. pluralityr of telephone lines` multiple sets of terminals for each telephone line.` a message charging device for each telephone line. a link circuit used in interconnecting said telephone lines through one of said sets of multiple terminals of one ci said telephone linesq a first circuit associated with said link circuit for operating the charging device of one of two telephone lines when they are interconnected through one set of multiple terminals. and a second circuit including a portion of said `iirst circuit tor operating the charging def vice of the other of said two rtelephone lines when they are interconnected through an-k other sot ot multiple terminals.

9. In a telephone system, a pluralitv oi. telephone lines` multiple sets ot terminals Ytor each telephone line. a message charging device for each telephone line. a link circuit used in interconnecting said telephone lines through either of said sets of multiple terminals of one of said telephone lines, at least one of said sets of terminals being characterized by the presence of a charging condition, at least another of said sets of terminals being characterized by the absence of a charging condition, an operating battery connected to the message charging device of an originating telephone line when said telcphone line is connected through said link circuit to a set 0f terminals of a terniinatng telephone line characterized by the absence of a noncharging condition, and a relay responsive to a. charging condition at the terminals of a terminating telephone line when a telephone line is connected to said terminating telephone through a set of terminals characterized by a charging condition, said relay operating to connect said operating battery to the message charging device of said terminating telephone line.

l0. The method of charging for telephone calls which consists normally in charging a call to the calling telephone line upon response of the called party when two telephone lines are interconnected iny one mauner and in charging the call to thc called telephone line upon response of the called party when these two telephone lines are interconnected in another manner.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of February A. D. 1925.

WINFRED T. POWELL. 

